Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has proposed an urgent meeting on the sidelines of the European Union summit on March 19 - 20 in an effort to reach an agreement with its partners. The PM called European Council President Donald Tusk yesterday (17.03) and asked him to convene a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Francois Hollande, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

While technical discussions have begun with Greece over how to implement a Eurogroup finance ministers’ agreement (20.02) for a four-month extension to its programme, progress so far has been minimal. The Greek premier has been invited to meet with the German chancellor in Berlin on March 23.